Detection of Escherichia coli in postpartum clinical endometritis of dairy cattle by PCR

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Trueperella pyogenes (T. pyogenes), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Bacillus spp. and Fusobacterium necrophorum (F. necrophorum) are the common bacterial agents isolated from postpartum endometritis in dairy cattle. The objective of the present study was to determine the association of E. coli with postpartum endometritis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The present study was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020 at Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Kerala and organised dairy farms in Wayanad district, Kerala. Endometrial cytobrush samples (n = 36) were collected by cytobrush technique at 28 to 35 days postpartum (dpp). 16S rRNA gene was employed for the identification of E. coli by PCR.

Upon evaluating endometrial cytological smear, 26 animals were positive for endometritis with more than 5% polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells. The prevalence of endometritis was 72.22 per cent (26/36). E. coli was detected in 12 samples by PCR. The study suggested PCR as a highly sensitive method for the identification of E. coli associated with endometritis in postpartum dairy cows.